Ladyhawke
Posts 81
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Aida, although tired from her hours of training as a Defender for Gorm, stood proudly amongst the few dwarves that passed the vigorous physical tests required of a true defender. Hours upon hours she had trained, the voice of Gorm in her head, urging her on, telling her she was chosen to do his work, to protect the dwarven clanholds and their allies. She thought to herself "Finally, m' callin' is here. Gorm said I'd find it, and here I be" Though she rarely smiled in day-to-day matters and rarely even then, she practically beamed when the Captain of the Dwarven Guard announced her completion of training. She immediately wiped the smile off her face and resumed her natural grim scowl, as it wasn't right, she thought, to look so dang happy. Gorm wouldn't approve.
The Barakor high priest gave his blessings to the soldiers lined neatly in front of him.
The Barakor solemnly looked at the row of finely trained soldiers, the protectors and defenders of all clanholds, and announced: "There be more than enough of ye lads and lasses guardin' the gates 'ere, so the Captain of the Guard will be choosin' which of ye will stay in the clanhold, and which of ye will be sent on missions. A few of ya will be given charges, which ye must protect with ye lives, and some of ya, well, some of ya, will have to go out and find them charges..." The Barakor's voice trailed off as he said this and he looked anxiously at Aida, although she didn't seem to notice,as she was caught up in the excitement of fulfilling what Gorm kept telling her she must do and knowing that her time to truly serve her lord was now.
She thought to herself "finally, they'll announce m' charge, th' one who I be protectin', th' one who I'll lay down m' life for." She secretly hoped it was someone in her clan, although she knew that others, even outsiders, were given defenders of their own, even some of their allies. Sometimes they were assigned just one person, and other times, entire villages. But no matter who or what it was, no matter how difficult a task she was assigned, she would defend them with her life, as a true defender should, and as her God, Gorm Gullthyn, kept telling her, she would be the ever watchful guardian and lay down her own life before allowing her charge to fall.
The Captain announced the assignments, droning on and on, "Clangdon Beardsong ye 'ave been assigned...blah, blah...defend the land of blah, blah blah...; Llorm Stonecutter ye 'ave been charged ...blah blah blah; Aida Sinsmasher ye 'ave been assigned..." Aida jumped to attention, mildly cursing herself for not being as attentive as she should have been. The Captain, coughing a bit to get her complete attention and to chastise her for her cursing, went on "...ye 'ave been assigned a charge, 'is name is...Mythan Darkstaff... and..um.." the Captain coughed a bit more "..and ee's, well, ee's a human, and a mage...and well, ye will find 'im somewhere near the lands of Trinity" Aida looked at the Captain and toward the Barakor, with disbelief. Catching herself before the Barakor saw her expression as a sign of disrespect, she quickly said "The good lord Gorm wills it, then so shall it be." The Captain nodded briefly at Aida and resumed his charging the rest of the brigade with assignments, all of which seemed to involve other dwarves and dwarven villages.
The rest of the clan eyed Aida warily. There were rumors going around that she wasn't right in the head, but she was a tough lass and could stand and fight with the best of them, and the clan respected that. She kept to herself mostly, once in a while they overheard her talking to herself, talking like she was with someone, and when asked about it, she said it was Gorm Gullthyn. Most of the other dwarves laughed this off, thinking that maybe she was dropped her on her head when she was young, and she got it into her head she could talk to gods. The church tolerated her as best it could, although she would sometimes try to correct the clergy during service. She was tolerated, mainly, because her father and mother were well known and beloved, and died a tragic death while defending the city against an Orc invasion. Aida was just a small child then, and the Barakor of the Church of Gorm raised her as an orphan, trying to teach her the ways of the clergy, of which she had very little patience, but she did have some gifts of calling on Gorm, mainly healing, which was good, as many a dwarf who faced Aida in the training ring needed a good healing when she was through with them.
Murmurs and rumors spread throughout the village as Aida walked toward the defender's barracks. Many of the other dwarves thought it served her right, to be sent to protect not only a human, but a human mage, and to have to leave the village on top of it. She of the mighty airs, thinking she could talk to Gorm. Either that or she was addled, and although a grand fighter and defender, would only bring disrespect to the clan one day with her mutterings and crazy talk.
Aida muttered wearily to herself as she headed to the barracks to pack for her journey to Trinity. "Aye, Gorm, but a mage? Yes, m' lord, I know it be your will an' all, but really, a human mage? Very well, m'lord, I be leavin' 'round morning light to start m' journey to find m' charge. Thanks be to ye, Gorm, I be servin' your will faithfully t' thee end." Aida lay in her bunk, wondering what kind of mage deserved the protection of a Defender of Gorm, a paladin nonetheless, but she knew it was not her place to think of reasons why, but only to do and if it so happens, die.
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